Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-30
A MOTHERS STORY.


that is my Sonny boy Jack
.eYou noticed the scars on his face, and thought
maybe that they spollt features meant TO be hand
some?
An. strt that WAS because you did not know.
Why. those red marks make him more beautiful
u re now than when baby in my arms, with
yelow Curls and laughing eyes and a skin Ike
rOse-leaf; the people hurrying IN and out OF the
trains would tuTn 10 lOOii and smile ut him, and
praise him 10 each other. speaking low may be-
but not too low Tor mothers quick, proud ears
10 hear.
"For we lived in little house close by the sta
ton aud when heard the whistle OF his fathers
train. used TO snatch the boy from his cradle or
OF the floor where he sat with his little play
things and run down TO the farther end OF the
long depot where the engine always halted, TO get
the smile and loving word that my heart lived on
All day-
WhiStIi9y and Changing Of bells. the groaninC OF
the wheels and pufnng OF the steam. lie 0uld
lsugh and spring 30 in my arms that / could
scarcely hold hlIn, tim his father would reach down
sometimes and Ills him up into the engineers cab
ana kiss him for oae precious minute and then toss
him down to Ioe again.
.When he grew a little older he was never play
lag horse or soldiers like the other little fellows
around: IL was always railroad train that ne
was driving All the S,nOOtheSt strips OF my OIL
lets OF EtndliDg wood went to build tracks over the
kitchen floor, hither ana thither, crossing and re-
"sDon't move my switch. mother dear" he used
TO cry out To me. You Will wreck my train. Tor
sure,
$50 had TO go softly abort my work with
scare place sometimes to set my foot. And all
the chairs n the house would be ranged for ears,
the big rocker. with the tea bell tied TO its back.
for the engine; and there he would sit perched up
by the hour making believe attend TO the valves
and shouting 10 the fireman.
Il shall never forget the first time his father
took him TO ride on the engine.
Jack had begged over and over 70 60, but bis
father always babe him wait until ne was Older.
80 said:
Ike true little heart that he was, he had not
sid another word about it Tor matter OF six
months or more
'sBut that day such a wistful look came into his
face. and he pulled himself up tall and straight,
and said, quite softly, his voice trembling little,
Father, do you think lam grown enough now?'
Looking at him, saw tears in his pretty eyes
think mis- father saw them. too, for he turned TO
Inc in a hurry and said:
VIII Brown will bring the little chap back all
straight, know. What do you say7'
what could say but yes? At supper-ume he
was back, but he could not eat. His eyes were
Ike stars, and there was hot, red spot On each
cheek, 50 that ! feared he would be I'LL And
he had said scarce word.
"'What was it like, Jack1e?' asked him.
40, InOtherr he said. 1T wasn't like anythfngH
ale sat Tor a moment thinking, then he said
'UnlesS IT was hke-you read last sunday
land what was that, Jack?' inquired, for
''.Dont you know. mother The wings of the
win3r
.'That was not his last ride on the engine by
many times, for as he grew older, his father would
take him often on saturdays or other half-holl-
days. lie was perfectly truSty and ObedienL
believe he would have had his right hand cut OF
sooner than have Ineddled with anything.
'.But he knew every valve ard screw and gauge,
and watched every turn OF his fathers hand and
learned the signals all along the line, 50 that my
husband said 10 me more than once:
=. ! believe In my heart Mary, that II was to be
struck dead on the engine, Jack could run her
through without a break.
Re was in school and learning fast, but out OF
Ia
chiHery and steam Such an odd child As he was,
with thoughts far beyond his years!
sometimes sitting here 10y myself I go over in
Iny mind the very strange things he used TO say to
Inc those days
reading for a long time in some book that he
had got out OF the public library; but by-and-
Ds ne stoppei ana leaned ms mead on DIS hand
looking into the Goals. Then, all at once:
Mother said he, ISN'T ii a wonderful thing
that God could trust men With ito
with what, Jack?'
"'With the stean-the power in 1t. mean!
j. was a long time before lie did But when the
40, mOther! said he, with his eyes shining
what must IL have been 10 be James Watt, and TO
listen 70 such secret as that:'
Is In minute he spoke again:
'.+And It's never safe 10 forget TO listen, because
wedon't know when He might SPEAK, or what there
might DC TO hear
Il could not answer him for choking in my
throat, but bad laid down my knitting. and put
ny arm around him; and he looked up into my face
We were getting on wei then. The little house
and garden were almost paid for and We thought
Thai nowhere In the world were happier people
than We, or 4 brighter. coSier home nv husband
and were always talking OF this and that tn be
TO- i99 s,t - SION a. the asI payment should
band came home very sick one day.
DO not De iriShtened. Mary. he said q think
shall be better Tomorrow
But he only grew worse next day It was a
lung fever that ne had. and for many days we
Thought he must die Yet he rallied after = time
though he kept his hacking cough-apd sar M and
moved about the house. and II last thought hiLn-
self strong enough 10 take his place again
= But that was TOO much. Tor at the end Of the
threshold
Its or no use Mary he said after he came 10
himself j can't run the engine. and II could it
l11t night Tor peoples lives 10 be trusted To such
weak hands Is mlne.'
lie Dever did any regular work after that
GhnOugh he survived Tor year
-tenSaHpti0n IS a terrible disease, sir, To see
one that yOu would give your heart ; bIoo. To save
slipping, slipping away before your eyes aud yOJI
helpless 10 hold him back BY So much as a hairs
breadth from the black gulf OF death, An sir ]
ifuSl y0U have never learned low hard il was.
q" Young as be WAS, Jack my STAY and COM
ioTi through that dark time. Ny poor husband
hd matters Ia his mind that ne lGnged toSGeak To
ne ABOUT, but always put him or Tor could not
iI~ten 70 anything ike his going away irolE ,Is
= buJ al last, The very day before the end came
- ST 10y his bed, holding his hand In mine he
sid, very gently but f1rInly:
- Mary. vile, think you must let me speak 10
You today
Il iell TO crying as If my heart would break. and
ne dF5-" pltlfui sigh that went Ike q sword
Then Jas rose up from the little stool where he
at 80 quietly ths.t had almost forgotten he was
there, and came and touched NE.
Mother. Gear uOther!' he said: and as looked
=" tla lace was perfectly White, but there were
10 fears in his eyes
Mother. he said again, please 70 away for
Att-e while can't hear what father wants to
say.
fou VIII Think NE cOwarily, SIR but did as
fht IN. q baGe me lett the door afar and
''t-a hear LAY husbands weak voice though
COLI ho' Understand the words, and Iueu INV
:, nor hrea
tT'itote IL TIE sweet voice And az last Jack said:
80 = thaJ all. dear father and yes VIII b.s
S3rl 20 remember ir-eYrTy word -
- Then IA came ont and Kissed Inc with n smile
and went through Tie out door
" 5Qt an hoIr ai'eTward, when went out to the
E'4i- heard little choking sound and r0und him
.Nlh On ils lace IN Iie long glass under the apple
tree, sObbing his very heart away so tuTnef
"o-t ;-hI vent into the house softly as could
and never let him SNOW
alter IL was all over and we had time IN ,oot,
>trtJ Ks We found -ii.e. defs Jeff and very rrrts
iiOiey u vas bad thing IO- me- That had for 50
4"i- a StroiS loving arm between M and every
10 % INNS ana plan nov 10 maze both ends
i.s'+t. "-Hl could EOJ even start C.t.uiy M the
tr-s,Di!.iiE- Bnt JACK came 10 M help s.-afn
Fatiirr sad That on Were never foNnrk hard
t''lr mother. because YOU were not stronur hr,,
t.itt IAGSt take care OF you In some VA he
Thought You could Jet two or three rylras If ,oi'r
~, iail D. and that tue best thing ff,r me inst
h''fE would - 10 get a traiH-l9y'- place. YIe LA
me ran On cur rad would Ic sure 10 give ms, a
sHaIgP Cor - 60 ILL -